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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. wound — an injury
  3. can — to be able to
  4. fine — all right
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. pit — in a race
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — a tin
  16. wound — an injury
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. drill — the tool
  19. pit — a hole
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. drill — a practice
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. fine — high quality
  24. pitch — completely

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com